Seeing the multitudes, ‘Isa went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the gentle,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see Allah.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called children of Allah.
10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be very glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavour, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. 14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17“Do not think that I came to abrogate the Taurat or the Prophets. I did not come to abrogate, but to fulfill. 18For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest letter[1] or one tiny pen stroke[2] shall in any way pass away from the Taurat, until all things are accomplished. 19Whoever, therefore, shall break one of its least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
21“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;'[3] and ‘Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a reason shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca[4]!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Jahannam.
23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the road; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be thrown into jail. 26Most assuredly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.[5]
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;'[6] 28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into Jahannam. 30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you: for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into Jahannam.
31“It has also been said, ‘Whoever shall divorce his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'[7] 32but I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except in the case of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.
33“Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'[8] 34but I tell you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of Allah; 35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[9] 39But I tell you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and do not turn away him who wants to borrow from you.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 48Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
[1]5:18 literally, iota
[2]5:18 or, serif
[3] 5:21 Taurat, Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17.
[4]5:22 “Raca“ is an Aramaic insult, related to the word for “empty“ and conveying the idea of empty-headedness.
[5] 5:26 Literally, kodrantes. A kodrantes was a small copper coin worth about 2 lepta (widow’s mites)–not enough to buy very much of anything.
[6] 5:27 Taurat, Exodus 20:14.
[7] 5:31 See the Taurat, Deuteronomy 24:1-3.
[8] 5:33 See the Taurat, Leviticus 19:12 and Numbers 30:3.
[9] 5:38 Quoted in the Taurat, Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21.